Public Statements

Kennedy On Bush's Immigration Remarks In Mexico

Today in Mexico, President Bush said he would "work as hard as [he] possibly can to pass comprehensive immigration reform." Senator Kennedy, chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security, issued the following statement:

"I commend the President for his call for comprehensive immigration reform today in Mexico. Now it is time to turn talk into action by working with Republican leaders to push forward our efforts in Congress. The recent federal raids in New Bedford where hundreds of immigrants were recklessly detained while the company owner was let off the hook only underscore how urgent it is that he work with Congress to fix our broken system.

There is no excuse for inaction - we must get comprehensive immigration reform done this year and done right. Last year, millions of people came together in support of immigration reform to fix our broken borders, strengthen our security, and deal with the 12 million undocumented immigrants already living in the US and contributing to our economy. Labor, business and religious leaders, Democrats and Republicans, and tens of thousands of average Americans came forward in support of comprehensive reform because it was the right thing to do."